Author: Art Davison

CHRIST LIVES TODAY

JOHN 20:19-31

Introduction:

The resurrection had taken place and Jesus had been seen by Mary Magdalene who had told the disciples. Peter and another disciple (probably John) had run to the tomb to find Jesus gone. They were perplexed and did not fully believe what Mary Magdalene said, Mark 16:10-13, “And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.”

Now the Lord shows Himself to the other disciples establishing the testimony of the resurrection which the Apostle Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

I. THE INFALLIBLE PROOF OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

A. Christ shows Himself ALIVE, v. 19; Acts 1:3, “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”

1. Mary Magdalene had seen Jesus at the tomb, vs. 15-16, “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”

2. Now the Lord reveals Himself to the other disciples, v. 19; Mark 16:14, “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.”

3. Thomas was not present at that first meeting, v. 24, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.”

a. Thomas did not believe the report of his brethren, vs. 25, “he other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

b. Later the Lord deals with his unbelief, vs. 26-27, “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”

c. Thomas is assured by the Lord, v. 28, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

B. Shalom = “Peace be with you,” John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

1. This is NOT the peace of the WORLD, but the peace of God, Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

2. This peace was because their sins were forgiven and the “peace of God” would guard their lives, Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

3. The world is unable to give this kind of peace.

a. Fear of death and fear of the future are removed as Jesus’ followers trust in Him, Hebrews 2:14-15, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

b. Thus they need not be troubled, John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

II. THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK

A. It was the same day that he rose, being the first day of the week, v. 19.

1. It was a PRIVATE MEETING of the Apostles, eleven of them, and some more of their friends with them, Luke 24:33, “And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,”

2. According to John the Lord ESTABLISHED THAT DAY as the day of Worship by appearing on that day to His worshippers, Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”

B. The Lord’s churches have met on the first day of the week since then, Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”

1. The second meeting of the Lord after His resurrection was on the first day of the week, John 20:26, “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”

2. Paul reinforced this precedent during his ministry, 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

CONCLUSION:

“This is the clearest verse in the New Testament which indicates that Sunday was the normal meeting day of the apostolic church. Paul stayed in Troas for seven days (v. 6) and the church met on the first day of the week. Luke’s method of counting days here was not Jewish, which measures from sundown to sundown, but Roman, which counted from midnight to midnight. This can be stated dogmatically because “daylight” (v. 11) was the next day (v. 7).” The Bible Knowledge Commentary.

BETHESDA, THE HOUSE OF MERCY

JOHN 5:1-9

Introduction:

Bethesada was a pool (a pond or bath) of water in Jerusalem where appeared the sick and diseased to be healed. “Dr. Lightfoot’s conjecture is that this was the upper pool (Isaiah 7:3), and the old pool, Isaiah 22:11; that it had been used for washing from ceremonial pollutions, for convenience of which the porches were built to dress and undress in, but it was lately become medicinal.” —Matthew Henry.

I. IT WAS IN JERUSALEM

A. The Pool, Bethesda – “house of mercy,” near the Temple.

B. The great number of disabled people pictures the sad spiritual plight of the world, v. 3, “In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.”

II. THE LORD AT WORK ON THE SABBATH

A. The paralyzed man had lived with death for 38 years, v. 5, “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.”

1. The Lord knew about him, v. 6, “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?”

a. The Lord knows everything about us, John 21:17, “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

b. There is nothing hid from Him, Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

2. “Wilt thou be made whole?”

a. God offers SPIRITUAL HEALING to a rebellious people, Isaiah 65:2, “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;”

b. This question was put to a blind man, Luke 18:41-42, “Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.”

B. This man was so EMPTY OF HOPE that he had to be asked, “Do you want to get well?”

1. The pool of Bethesda was a healing pool, vs. 3-4, “In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.”

2. This man had A REAL PROBLEM besides his disease, v. 7, “The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.”

a. He had NO HELPER, Psalm 72:12, “For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.”

b. NO ONE CARED for his soul, Psalm 142:4, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”

c. No one that is, BUT JESUS, Romans 5:6-8, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

C. The LORD heals the impotent man, vs. 8-9, “Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.”

1. No mention of faith until later.

2. The man responds immediately, v. 9.

a. The Lord does some things in reverse order, Matthew 9:6-7, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7And he arose, and departed to his house.”

b. The man’s problem was related to sin, v. 14, “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

c. The woman with the issue of blood found immediate healing, Mark 5:29, “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”

3. It was done on the Sabbath, vs. 10-11, “The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. 11He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.”

a. He was to do no work on the Sabbath, Exodus 20:10, ” But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:”

b. Jesus was always at odds with the Jews over the Sabbath.

1) The case of eating grain in the field on the Sabbath, Mark 2:23, “And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?”

2) The case “to do good on the Sabbath,” Mark 3:4-5, “And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

CONCLUSION:

The Lord did a great work in the life of this impotent man not only by healing him, but by saving his soul also. Next week we will see what is involved in the conflict over the Sabbath.

NEW COMMANDMENT

JOHN 13:34-35; 1 JOHN 2:8-10

Introduction:

The Lord knew that the only way these disciples would be able to continue in unity was through the bond of His love, John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” So the Lord gave them a “new commandment” in v. 34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

I. “THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT”

John 15:12, 17, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

A. This is the commandment of JESUS CHRIST, vs. 17, 34, “These things I command you, that ye love one another. 34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

B. This commandment comes DIRECT from the THRONE OF GOD.

C. This is a commandment, NOT A REQUEST, John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

1. WHY are we commanded to love? John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

2. Without love we are,..

a. As sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal, 1 Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

b. We are nothing, 1 Corinthians 13:2, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

II. THIS IS A NEW COMMANDMENT

1 John 2:8-10, “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

A. Now you walk in the true light, 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

1. If we walk in the light, we are TO WALK IN LOVE, Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

2. Followers of God walk in love, Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

B. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren, 1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

1. Evidence of salvation, “because we love the brethren.”

2. Evidence of a lack of salvation, “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

C. This is HIS commandment, 1 John 3:23, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

D. We are to ABOUND in love one toward another, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”

1. Increase in love, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”

2. Increase more and more, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;”

III. THIS IS A COMMANDMENT TO LOVE ALL OF THE SAINTS OF GOD

Colossians 1:3-4, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,”

A. In bearing each other’s burdens, Galatians 6:2-4, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”

B. Do good to those of the household of faith, Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

C. Show kindness to the brethren, Colossians 3:12-13, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

CONCLUSION:

The Lord commanded us to love one another as He loved us. That was a sacrificial love. He gave His all to redeem us from sin. Therefore, what is it if we give our all in loving one another in order to glorify our Saviour?

THE “I AM” SERIES 

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE

JOHN 6:35

Introduction:

Jesus had fed the multitudes with barley bread, the coarsest and least valuable form of bread. Its nutritional value was of little worth and inadequate, but the men were satisfied. It is amazing to me how men are satisfied with such low quality when they could have the best. Jesus is the Bread of Life, but men continue to want the Barley loaves.

I. “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.” v. 35, 48

A. Israel was given Manna in the wilderness, Exodus 16:15, “And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.”

B. They called it “manna” or “What is it?”

1. Man continues in his ignorance not recognizing God’s blessings in his life.

2. He continues to refuse to admit that God is still to One that gives us all that we have.

C. They refuse to admit that Jesus is “THE BREAD OF LIFE.”

1. Israel ate manna in the wilderness and they are dead, John 6:49, “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.”

2. Those that partake of the Bread of Life will live forever, v. 47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

II. “I AM THE LIVING BREAD THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN.” v. 51.

A. The Jews recognized Jesus as a mere man, v. 42, “And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?”

B. They never recognized Jesus as the Son of God of in flesh, John 1:1-3, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

1. The Jews rejected Him, John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

2. But those that received Him became sons of God, John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

III. “I AM THE LIVING BREAD…” v. 51

A. If you eat this bread, you will live forever, v. 51, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

1. Matthew Henry said, “To live for ever is not to be for ever (the damned in hell shall be for ever, the soul of man was made for an endless state), but to be happy for ever.”

2. The Son of Man will welcome all of those who come to Him, v. 37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

B. You have to identify with Jesus Christ for your sins to be forgiven, vs. 53-54, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

1. In the OT the sinner had to identify himself with his SIN offering, Leviticus 1:4, “And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.”

2. In our time the Ultimate Sacrifice was Jesus Christ, but we still have to identify ourselves with Him by trusting Him as our Savior, Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

CONCLUSION:

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” He invites you to come and partake of the bread that gives eternal life. Would you trust him as your Savior today?

Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

THE “I AM” SERIES

JESUS ESTABLISHES HIS IDENTITY

JOHN 8:48-59

Introduction:

This message begins a series of sermons on the “I AM”. In this message the identity of the Lord Jesus is established beyond any doubt. If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, you would do well to listen to this message.

I. GOD IS THE FATHER OF JESUS.

A. Jesus is EQUAL with the Father, Philippians 2:6, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:”

B. He is MASTER and LORD, John 13:13, “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”

1. Master, or Teacher, John 11:28, “And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.”

2. LORD, the word implies OWNERSHIP, John 5:23, “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”

C. He is the Creator, John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

D. He is the CAPITAIN of the Lord’s host, Joshua 5:13-15, “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?”

II. GOD’S POWER REST UPON JESUS.

A. If any man keep my Word, v. 51, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.”

1. He shall never see death, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 11:26, “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

2. He is not condemned, John 5:24; 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

3. He has a home in Heaven, John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

B. Jesus’ power was because He HONORED the Father, John 15:41, “I receive not honour from men. v. 50, “And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.” John 7:18, “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.”

III. GOD’S FAVOR REST UPON JESUS.

A. Abraham rejoiced in Jesus, v. 56, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”

1. To see His day,

2. And he saw it and was glad.

B. Abraham left a heritage, Galatians 3:7-8, “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”

1. By faith in Christ we are the children of Abraham.

2. God has blessed all nations through him.

C. Before Abraham, I AM, v. 58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

Proverbs 8:22-30.

CONCLUSION: